My electric yellow cichlid died a mysterious death?

Question

When I found it, it was stuck to the filter, already pale. When I tried taking it out, it's mouth was wide open. I read that cichlids open their mouths wide to fight for territory, and also to hold eggs.

What killed it? O_o

Answer 1

From the information that you've given it could be just about anything.

Temp. changes

Nitrogen cycle going awry (new tank sindrome)

Possibly overeating

Could be ick, virus, mold, bad food.

A wide mouth could also mean that it was trying to breath. Being stuck to the filter the water would get swept away faster than the gills can draw the oxygen from them.

Answer 2

It could of died from anything. it could been ick or it could of swallowed something that wasn't on a fish's menu. what s*x was your your cichlid it could have been another male cichlid in your tank that killed your cichlid.